Tastes

Nose: Beautiful. There is a hay note hiding in there somewhere… some wet potters clay, a small amount of pleasing lemony-citrus. There is a very nice, deep and fresh port note as well. I also catch a very light bread dough note, too. Palate and Finish: Port BOMB! Good heat, oily, and a bit of baking spices. There is an oaky and citrus note that lingers quite pleasingly, the citrus reminiscent of lemon. Overall this is an incredible dram with an outstanding nose and a beautiful palate. If you are a classic Dalmore fan this bottle will expand your horizons and add something new to the list!

N: Wonderful vanilla, flowery sweetness, a bit of a nice dry note to complement these two notes, almost a peanutty dryness. P: Sweet vanilla, floral and rich, a good spice blends with the vanilla and it finishes a bit hot— not in a bad way— with the spice and the proof. Overall the sweetness dominates on the palate with a pleasant heat and lingering spice on the back end. For the price and quality, this bottle is practically a must!

High West Rendezvous Rye (Ed Mell Artwork) Nose: A good blend of nice rye spices— seeming like a fresh green rye grain note. This is a very sweet nose and is full bodied. Palate and Finish: On the palate sweetness comes through overwhelmingly, in all the right ways. The rye grain makes itself known, but it is not too spicy and not overpowering at all. There is an excellent sweetness on the palate and a nice short but rich finish on it. As it sits on the palate longer, the rye grain reveals itself more heavily on the end, and it, along with a fresh grass note are what is left. On the whole, this whiskey is quite enjoyable. The sweetness of bubble gum, the rye, and the sweet grassy qualities in it make it inviting to continue sipping.

Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered Nose: The nose on this bottle is bottle is dense with notes of spice and vanilla. The rye spice is present and heavy, but a nice vanilla cherry rides through on the back end. There is almost a cherry syrup note, but it is deep in the background and blended with the oak and rye spice. Palate and Finish: The palate on this whiskey is incredibly rich. It is dense and oily, and coats the mouth with notes of sweet rich vanilla, rich cherries, dense and sweet rye, with a good finish consisting of nice oak notes, and fresh rye and creamy vanilla spices. Oily and velvety, the proof allows this dram to linger and evolve as you sit and sip. On the whole, this is an incredible release from Smoke Wagon. This is a pour I return to every now and then, only when I am in the mood for such a rich, dense, almost velvety bottle. It is a favorite, no questions!

Nose: A lot of good vanilla and a very rich, slight spiced wood note, mixed in well with a heavy and dark cherry. They cherry and the wood are wonderful compliments, both dark and rich and heavy, with that nice herbal spice note. There’s almost a bit of bubblegum there too. Palate and Finish: Beautiful palate and a nice finish. For 59% ABV, this dram is nearly quaffable. It has wonderful woody and vanilla notes, with a nice rich Luxardo cherry sort of syrup. There is a nice chocolately/cherry note here to and the spice is a great background to finish on. Finish lingers for a decent time, and becomes sweeter and friendlier. This is a great winter evening dram, if you’re in the mode for a bourbon. After about two minutes, a bit of a green/fresh grain note is left, along with the spice as it fades. Overall, this is a wonderful dram from Still Austin. It is nearly quaffable, despite its 59% ABV tag— It is easily a drink you could return to over and over multiple times and feels like a bottle you could do much more damage to than intended!

Nose: Vanilla and light charred/toasted oak, there is a background of a fruit or rich melon hidden in the nose, and maybe the smallest hint of herbal green tea or toasted grain. Palate: While somewhat thin, it has a decent carry over and nice proof on the palate. It has melons, almost an artificial candy flavor like paddy taffy in a good way. A decent finish the longer you sip it, but on initial sips the finish doesn’t linger too long. A few sips in, it has a nice light fruit and a bit of a cooked grain finish. Finish: At first light and thin, but the more you sip the more it hangs around and is like a cooked grain and melon mixture of a finish. Not displeasing in the least. Overall, it tastes like a young whiskey, but is not particularly thin or punchy. It is a decent 2 year old dram, but I very much look forward to tasting their more aged products. I am a fan, and can’t wait to see more from them. I will likely pick up their full line if the next bottles I try from them flex their muscles a bit!